Roof attachment



March 31, 1964 P. E. KETTLER 3,127,214

' ROOF ATTACHMENT Filed Jan; 3, 1961 6 Sheets-Sheet l FIG 8 INVENTORPoul Erich Kettler ATTORNEY ROOF ATTACHMENT Filed Jan. 3, 1961 6Sheets-Sheet 2 98 h r INVENTOR Poul Erich Ketfler FIG.|6.

we BY I WW ATTORNEY Marc-h 31, 1964 Filed Jan. 5, 1961 P. E. KETTLERROOF ATTACHMENT 6 Sheets-$heet I5 mvmon Poul Erich Kettler ATTORNEXMarch 31, 1964 p, KETTLER 3,127,214

ROOF ATTACHMENT Filed Jan. 3, 1961 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR Poul ErichKettler I BY dww/v ATTORNEY March 31, 1964 P. E. KETTLER 3,127,214

ROOF ATTACHMENT Filed Jan. 3, 1961 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR Poul ErichKettler I 0 BY ,l'i:"'

ATTORNEY March 31, 1964 P. E. KETTLER Filed Jan. 3, 1961 ROOF ATTACHMENTFIG.37. FIG.38.

FIG 40.

FIG.4|.

INVENTOR Poul Erich Kettle:

BY W

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,127,214 RGOF ATTACHMENT Paul ErichKettler, An der Autobahn, Ockstadt, Kreis Friedberg, Hesse, GermanyFiled Ian. 3, 1961, Ser. No. 81,915 17 Claims. (Cl. 296-102) The presentinvention relates to vehicle attachments and more particularly isconcerned with a novel roof or hood attachment especially adapted foruse on tractors or the like.

Numerous types of hoods or roofs have been previously proposed foragricultural and road-building equipment, or the like. These knownconstructions generally fall into the following categories:

(1) Those which are stationarily mounted on the tractor at one or morefixed points;

(2) Those which are mounted on a vehicle and utilize some type ofresilient mounting at one or more connecting points; and

(3) Those utilizing some type of spring mounting.

The constructions mentioned above have generally proven unsatisfactoryfor many reasons, some of which are as follows:

(1) Rigidly mounted hoods are exposed to various shocks and vibrationsto which the vehicle is subjected, causing damage to the roof mountingson the vehicle or requiring exceptionally heavy and expensive partswhich must be carefully machined, manufactured and inspected;

(2) The rigid connections are subjected to resonant vibrationstransmitted to the vehicle roof which, if the roof is made of metal,cause excessive noise;

(3) If rigid connections or mountings are used in conjunction withresilient mountings, the difficulties mentioned above continue to existand, additionally excessive vibrations at the resilient connectionsappear to result due to excessive loads and stresses on the entirestructure;

(4) If all the mountings for the roof would be of a resilient character,the mountings, if they are in the form of springs, would have nouniversal movement and thus would be operated generally in a singlelinear direction which would give rise to resultant stresses due toangular forces reacting on the springs. Furthermore, these resilientmountings are expensive to manufacture, to install and to maintain inorder to afford the roof the proper support, namely, at the center ofgravity of the roof or hood. Additionally, the spring mountings aresubjected to torsional or twisting movements due to the weight of thehood or root and the eccentric movements caused during operation of thevehicle. Also, due to the remote location of the resilient mountingswith respect to the center of gravity of the roof, the previouslyproposed roofs and mountings failed to eliminate the shocks and stressesdue to the internal forces and twisting movements on the connections.

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to providevehicle roof mountings which overcome the disadvantages of thepreviously proposed constructions.

It is another object of the present invention to provide novel anduniversal damping means supporting a roof substantially at its center ofgravity and which has portions affording universal shock absorbingmovements, i.e., movements in all directions.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a noveland universal damping means which substantially eliminates internalstresses and permits relatively light and inexpensive mountings to beutilized for assembling a roof attachment on a tractor vehicle or thelike.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an installationincluding one or more novel universal damp- 3,127,214 Patented Mar. 31,1964 ing means with roof attachments of a relatively heavy character andfurther causing a minimum of interference with the movements andvisibility of the operator.

It is an additional object of the present invention to pro vide a roofinstallation utilizing universal damping means which are mounted on atransverse axis in substantial alignment with the center of gravity ofthe roof and a mounting portion of the vehicle as, for example, thefenders of the tractor, whereby the load of the roof is transferreddirectly to the fenders.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide universaldamping means usable on a vehicle roof installation and includingL-shaped or U-shaped supporting frames in which such damping meanscompensate for lateral oscillations of the supporting frames.

It is another object of the present invention to provide universaldamping means in conjunction with one or more fluid dampers, thuspermitting the use of roofs having a windshield and removable sideshields attached thereto, and permitting a non-uniform distribution ofmass, as well as aifording a ready accessibility for entering andleaving the drivers compartment and providing good visibility to theoperator to permit observation of the front, side or rearwardly mountedtools, which damping means tend to absorb the vibrations of the vehicle.

Another object of the present invention resides in the provision of ahood or roof which is especially suited for installation on tractors orthe like having different dimensions and randomly located supportingmeans.

It is a further object of the invention to provide mounting means for aroof construction which permits the supporting means to be adjustablymounted in angular position relative to the mounting plate secured tothe vehicle and further including means for bracing or stabilizing thesupporting means.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide means formounting a support for a roof in which the support is mounted on avehicle by means of triangularly disposed bracing and mounting portions.

Additional objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent upon consideration of the following description when taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a substantially diagrammatic side elevational view of thenovel roof attachment provided on a tractor vehicle.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged vertical section taken substantially on line 2-2of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a further enlarged elevational view of one embodiment of auniversal damping means as seen substantially from the plane of line 3-3of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a vertical section taken substantially on line 4-4 of FIGURE3.

FIGURES 5 to 8 are views similar to FIGURES 3 and 4, respectively, andillustrate diagrammatically the compound or universal movements of thedamping means.

FIGURE 9 is an elevational view similar to FIGURE 4 on a slightlyenlarged scale, and showing another embodiment of the universal dampingmeans.

FIGURE 10 is a section taken substantially on line 1010 of FIGURE 9.

FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary view similar to FIGURE 2, showing the mannerin which two universal damping means are used in a roof construction,and showing in dotted lines the manner in which vibrations affect one ofthe supporting means.

FIGURE 12 is a view similar to FIGURES 2 and 11, showing another roofmounting installation utilizing supplemental universal damping means.

FIGURE 13 is a view similar to FIGURES 2, 11 and 12, showing anotherembodiment of a roof construction and indicating vertical adjustabilityof the roof.

FIGURE 14 is an elevation as seen substantially from the plane of line14-14 of FIGURE 13 and showing by phantom lines the manner in which theroof may be angularly disposed.

FIGURE 15 is a top plan view of the'roof of FIG- URE 13.

FIGURE 16 is an enlarged elevation of a resilient belt used to retainthe roof in an angularly disposed position.

FIGURE 17 is a view illustrating an installation of the roof shown inFIGURES 13 and 15 on a tractor vehicle.

FIGURE 18 illustrates a roof installation on another type of tractorvehicle.

FIGURE 19 is a vertical section taken substantially on line 19-19 ofFIGURE 18.

FIGURE 20 is a front elevational view of a roof similar to that shown inFIGURES 2, 11, 12 and 19, showing the roof and windshield includinglaterally positionable side sections.

FIGURE 21 is a view similar to that of FIGURE 20, showing the sidesections in an open position.

FIGURE 22 is a perspective view illustrating the tractor and roof ofFIGURES 20 and 22, and showing how a driver may readily mount anddismount from the tractor.

FIGURE 23 shows the tractor roof construction of FIG- URES 20 to 22,illustrating the use of supplemental vibration dampers.

FIGURE 24 is an enlarged section taken substantially on line 2424 ofFIGURE 23.

FIGURE 25 is a view similar to that of FIGURE 23, showing another mannerof installing supplemental vibration dampers.

FIGURE 26 is a side elevational view of a roof support, showing indotted lines how a vertical supporting rod may be rotated about itslongitudinal axis.

FIGURE 27 is an enlarged View showing in dotted lines positions ofadjustment of the roof support with portions broken away.

FIGURE 28 is a front elevation of FIGURE 27 with portions broken away.

FIGURE 29 is a further enlarged side elevation similar to a portion ofFIGURE 27, showing in phantom lines how a vertical supporting member isadjusted angularly.

FIGURE 30 is an enlarged front elevation similar to a portion of FIGURE28, showing further angular adjustments of a supporting member.

FIGURE 31 is a plan view taken substantially on line 31-31 of FIGURE 26.

FIGURE 32 is a further enlarged section taken substantially on line32-32 of FIGURE 29.

FIGURES 33, 34 and 35 are enlarged fragmentary elevations of differentembodiments of clamp sleeves utilized with vertical roof supportingmembers which may be 'rotated about their longitudinal axes.

FIGURES 36, 37, 38 are sectional views taken substantially on lines3636, 37-37 and 3838 of FIGURES 33, 34 and 35, respectively.

FIGURE 39 is a front elevational View similar to that shown in FIGURES28 and 30, showing another type of roof support.

FIGURE 40 is an enlarged section taken substantially 'on line 40-40 ofFIGURE 39, showing a strut coupling device for a supporting strut.

FIGURE 41 is a side elevational view of still another strut coupling.

FIGURE 42 is a view similar to that of FIGURE 41, illustrating anadjusted position of the coupling of FIG- URE 41.

Considering now the drawings and FIGURES 1 and 2 thereof in particular,FIGURE 1 shows a typical tractor indicated generally at It) whichincludes a chassis portion 12, front wheels 14 and rear Wheels 16.Overlying the rear wheels, as is conventional, are fenders 18. Mountedon a suitably secured supporting plate 28 on the righthand fender 18, asseen in FIGURE 2, is a vertically ex tending L-shaped support rod 22which includes an indirection axially of the support arm 24. bly 26affords a universal movement about the fixed supwardly extending arm 24upon which is mounted a vertically disposed and terminally secureduniversal shock absorbing and vibration damping assembly indicatedgenerally at 26. The assembly 26 will have mounted thereon foradjustment about the longitudinal axis of the arm 24 a roof indicatedgenerally at 28 which includes a forward depending windshield 30 having,if desired, side panel portions 32. The roof includes a cover portion 34to overlie that portion of the tractor which is occupied by the driveror operator.

FIGURES 3 and 4 show that the arm 24 is hollow and includes in theterminal end thereof a mounting block 36 which receives therein amanually rotatable clamp screw 38 which will be terminally threaded intoa threaded bore portion 40 of the block 36. Mounted on a transverselyapertured center block element 42, through which the shank of the clampbolt 38 extends, is a resilient collar 44 of rubber or any othersuitable resilient material which has placed thereabout a rigid metalcollar 46 of any suitable material. Secured on the upper edge of thecollar 46 is a block element 48 which includes a planar surface 50 whichwill underlie a suitable mounting portion of the top 34 of the roof 28.The mounting block 48 will be secured to the roof 34 by means ofappropriate fastening elements, such as screws or the like, as indicatedat 52 in FIGURE 2.

It will be noted from FIGURE 1 that the assembly 26 is locatedapproximately at the center of gravity of the roof 28, thereby affordingmaximum support for the roof and additionally providing the means forabsorbing vibration and shock directly beneath the center of gravity andpreventing the occurrence of resonant vibrations.

Considering next FIGURES 5 to 8, it will be seen in FIGURE 5 that theassembly 26 with the resilient material 44 will permit the roof 34 andcollar 46 to have a relative transverse movement with respect to the arm24. Further, in FIGURE 6, the assembly 26 will permit the roof .withrespect to the arm 24, as indicated by the dotted line,

and as indicated in FIGURE 8, the roof and assembly 26 providing amovement in and out of its plane, i.e., in a Thus, the assemport arm 24immediately below the center of gravity of the roof assembly 28, therebyeliminating the transmission of internal stresses which a tractorencounters in rough terrain and, by being located at the center ofgravity of the roof, the assembly will permit a maximum weight roof tobe supported by a relatively light structure.

Referring now to FIGURES 9 and 10, another embodiment of the universalshock absorbing and vibration damping assembly is indicated generally at26' and is mounted on support arm 24 by means of a vertically disposedsleeve portion 56 which is formed integrally with the arm 24.

Fixed in the sleeve 56 by means of a lock pin 58 is a tubular element 60which has extending therein a cylindrical resilient rod element 62 madeof rubber or other suitable resilient material. Placed about the outersurface of the tubular element 60 is a coil spring 64 through which theresilient rod element 62 extends axially. The upper end of the spring 64is placed about a tubular element 66 which telescopically receives theupper end of the resilient element 62, and fixed to the upper end of theelement is a mounting block 48 which includes an upper mounting surface50', similar to the mounting block structure previously described. Theelement 58 extends diametrically through the lower portion of theresilient rod 62. This embodiment will permit substantially the sameuniversal opposed rear fenders I8, similar to those previouslymentioned. This installation is used with a relatively heavy roofindicated generally at 72, a plurality or pair of the assemblies 26being provided at the center of gravity of the roof assembly 72 but inspaced transverse relation. In an installation of this character, thesupports 22 are mounted by means of mounting plates on each of thefenders, and the rod sections or support arms 24' are of a relativelyshorter length than the arms 24 previously described.

Referring to FIGURE :12, a tractor is indicated at 80 and includes onthe fenders 18 mounting plates 20. However, supplemental vibration andshock damping means are provided in this type of roof. Extendingvertically from the mounting plates 20 are support arms 22' whichterminate in integral circular collars 82 of a construction similar tothat described in detail relative to the universal shock absorbing andvibration damping assembly 26. Although not shown, the supplementalshock absorbing assembly will include within the circular rings 82 acore of rubber or resilient material having a central substantiallyrigid portion through which a support shaft 34- having rod sectionsextends. Placed about a central portion of the shaft or rod 84 is anassembly 26 which includes the mounting block portion 48 to which a roofassembly at 28 is fixedly secured in the manner previously described.

Referring to FIGURE 11, the support arms 22 which are fixedly secured tothe tenders 18 will permit these fenders to vibrate or oscillate withrespect to the roof 72, as indicated in dotted line on this figure.

Considering FIGURES 13 to 16, there is shown an installation of arelatively light hood or roof which has been conventionally described asa tropical roof. In this construction, the fender 18 has fixed thereon asupporting plate 2h which has a central aperture therethrough. Fixed onthe plate is an upwardly extending tubular sleeve 86 whichtelescopically receives the lower end portion of a support rod 83.Extending laterally into the sleeve 86 is a lock screw 96 which willpermit the rod 83 to be rotated about its longitudinal axis and alsopermits it to be vertically adjusted in the manner indicated by thedirection arrows on FIGURE 13. The support rod 88 includes an inwardlyextending support arm 92 which has fixed to the terminal end thereof anassembly 26 including a clamp screw 38 which permits the roof assembly94 to be rotated about the longitudinal axis of the arm 92.

The roof assembly 94, shown in FIGURE 15, comprises a substantiallyrectangular tubular frame 96 which includes a transversely extendingsupporting member 93 to which the upper portion of the assembly 26 isfixed by means of suitable fasteners Mil). The mounting piece 93 islocated at the center of gravity of the roof assembly 94 and accordinglywill provide an optimum location for the shock absorbing and vibrationdamping assembly 26. The frame 26 includes a substantially flexiblecover material 12 which may be secured by means of sewing or rivetingaround the tubular frame 96.

Indicated generally at 1% is an adjustable resilient belt 106 havinghook elements 1% and 110 on opposite ends which may be respectivelysecured to portions of the tubular frame 96 and a convenient portion ofthe tractor upon which the roof is mounted in order to tilt the roof tothe various positions shown by means of phantom lines in FIGURE 14, forexample.

Referring to FIGURE 17, a tractor 112 has mounted on a rear end portion114 a tropical roof of the character described relative to FIGURES 13 to15. In this installation, the manner in which the roof overlies theoperators or drivers seat 116 gives him freedom of movement into and outof the tractor seat, and his vision during operation of the tractor isnot impaired.

Considering FIGURES 18 and 19, a caterpillar-type tractor is indicatedgenerally at 118 and has mounted t3 thereon on one of the walk ways 120the vertical supporting member 88 of the tropical roof previouslydescribed, as shown in FIGURE 19.

Considering next FIGURES 20 to 25, a tractor 7 0 has mounted thereon aroof assembly 72', similar to the roof described relative to FIGURE 11.In this embodiment, the rear fenders 18 have mounted thereon mountingplates 24 from which extend vertical supports 22 which include inwardlyextending arms 24 upon which are mounted the universal shock absorbingand damping assemblies 26, which are secured to the roof by means ofsuitable fasteners, as previously described. In this installation, theroof includes outwardly pivoting side panels 121 which may be disposedin the position shown in FIG- URES 21 and 22. In this embodiment, theshock absorbing assemblies 26 are disposed beneath the center of gravityof the roof assembly 72' and the operator or driver will have readyaccess to the seat of the tractor. In order to further support the roof72' against vibration and the like, hydraulic dampers 122 may beinterposed between the roof and the vertical support rod 22, as shown inFIGURE 23, and additional hydraulic dampers 123 may extend between theforward edge of the windshield 124 to a steering column S, as indicatedin dotted lines in FIGURE 23.

Referring to FIGURE 25, hydraulic dampers 125 may be provided betweenthe forward edge of the windshield 118 and underlying portions of thehood H. By virtue of the different types of tractors which areconventionally used, different fender constructions are encountered and,accordingly, the various support means will be modified to permit readyadaption of the roof assembly on these various tractors. The tractorsmay incorporate means for mounting the roof attachment as part of theoriginal manufacture, or they may be readily modified in the field.

Considering FIGURES 26 to 32, a fender F having a vertical side portion126 has superimposed thereon a mounting plate 128. The plate 128 has aplurality of apertured portions for receiving screws at portion 134 asshown in FIGURE 29.

Welded at 131, as shown in FIGURE 32, is a supporting plate 132 whichterminates in an upper spherical ball element 134. The support rod ormember 22 has a lower open, annular portion 136 received on thespherical ball element 134 (see FIGURES 27 to 30). The support rod andthe roof assembly supported thereby will be adjustably mounted andsupported by means of a strut assembly indicated generally at 138, asshown in FIGURE 26, which will permit various types of adjustment orpositioning of this strut assembly.

The strut assembly 133 comprises a pair of angularly related integralstrut elements 146 and 142 having their terminal ends connected toclamping collars 146. The collars 146 may be moved longitudinally of thesupport rod 22 (see FIGURE 26) and will permit various adjustedpositions of the support rod 22.

The clamp sleeve 146 (FIGURES 33 and 36) comprises a collar having adiametrically extending retaining pin I43 extending through the collarand the support rod 22. As shown in FIGURES 34 and 37, another type ofclamp sleeve is indicated at 146' and comprises a tubular element placedabout the support rod 22 and including a pair of parallel flanges 15%which are retained or pulled together by means of suitable nut and boltassemblies 152.

Referring to FIGURES 35 and 38, another clamp sleeve is indicated at 146and comprises a sleeve placed about the support rod 22 and has extendinglaterally therein lock screws 154 which abuttingly engage the supportrod 22 to retain the collars 146" in a fixed position relative to thesupport rod 22. Thus, the support collars will facilitate the adjustedposition of the strut assembly 138 as indicated by the solid and dottedlines in FIGURE 26.

V; As shown in FIGURES 26 to 28, the rods 14% and 142 intersect at theends opposite those attached to the sleeves terminates in a sphericalsupport ball 134 of the character previously described. lhe support rod22 rests 'on the upper surface of the spherical ball element 134 and asleeve 146 is clamped about the support rod 122.

A strut assembly 136 is provided, and this strut assembly includes atthe foot portion 156 thereof a ball element 158 of the characterpreviously mentioned. Re-

placing the cup member 16%) is a coupling sleeve indicated generally at166, details of which are shown in FIGURE 40. The sleeve member 166includes an upwardly opening collar 168 which has a resilient clampelement 179 telescopically received therein, the upper end portion ofthe element 1711 being spherical, as shown at 172, to receive the ballelement 158 therein. A lower portion of the element 171) is transverselyapertur-ed and suitably tapped for receiving therein a screw element 174which extends upwardly through the fender 164. When the screw element174- is tightened, the element 1719 will, due to its tapered lower end,be caused to grip the ball 158 at the lower end of the strut assembly133.

With regard to FIGURES 41 and 42, the strut assembly 138 includes at thefoot portion 156 thereof a pair of clamp plates 176 and 178 which areurged into clamping relationship by means of a manually rotatable clampscrew 18% The lower end portion of the plates 176 and 178, which areintermediately pivoted at 182,"

Will grippingly engage a spherical ball element 184 which is fixed on amounting stud 186 to a suitable portion of the fender 164.

In the embodiments of FIGURES 41 and 42, the

mounting studs 18%, which are retained by means of suit shock absorbingand vibration damping means which will permit shocks transmitted from atractor or farm implement to be damped and to have substantially littleefiect on the roof which is mounted on the tractor. As

illustrated in FIGURES 5 to 8, the two embodiments of the universalshock absorbing and damping means makes possible various relativeeccentric movements between the support member rod 22 and the roof whichis supported thereby. The assemblies 26 and 26' will be locatedsubstantially at the center of gravity of the roof to permit optimumsupport for the roof and by virtue of this support a very cumbersomestructure interfering with the drivers visibility is avoided andresonant vibrations are materially reduced. Further, in relatively heavyroof constructions, a plurality of shock absorbing assemblies 26 may beutilized, as shown in FIGURE 11 and, where necessary and deemeddesirable, a supplemental shock absorbing and vibration damping meanswill be provided, as illustrated in FIG- URE 12.

In addition, as indicated in FIGURES 17 to 19, the roof attachment maybe mounted on various types of tractors, for example, on conventionalfarm tractors or the caterpillar-type tractors, as well as other roadbuilding equipment. Furthermore, as shown in FIG- URES 20 to 22, theroof attachment facilitates the utilization of a windshield which hasisplaceable side portions to permit the operator of the tractor to haveready access to the operating portion of the tractor. In addition,supplemental hydraulic or pneumatic fluid-type shock absorbing ordamping means can be utilized, as shown in FIGURES 23 to 25. Stillfurther, the roof attachment may be readily mounted on different typesof fenders of various tractors, and the lower support portion may beadjustably mounted, as clearly illustrated in FIGURES 26 to 31. Varioustypes of clamp sleeves, as illustrated in FIGURES 33 to 38, may be usedand detachable couplers may be utilized as illustrated in FIGURES 49 to42.

It will be understood that the above description of the presentinvention is susceptible to various modifications, changes andadaptations, and the same are intended to be comprehended within themeaning and range of equivalents or" the appended claims.

Iclaim:

1. In a tractor vehicle, in combination, a plurality of fenders, a roofassembly having roof means overlying an operator portion of the tractorvehicle; support means having an L-shaped configuration fixed to thevehicle in displacement to the operator portion and extending upwardlytherefrom toward the roof means, said support means having a leg at thetop end extending horizontally and transversely and terminating nearsubstantially the center of gravity of said room assembly, universalvibration damping and shock absorbing means secured to the end of saidleg, said roof means being mounted on said shock absorbing means, saidshock absorbing means including a resilient annular collar, meansmounted at the end of said leg for releasably holding said collarwhereby its axis is in a horizontal position, a metal ring enclosingsaid collar, mounting means securing said ring to said roof means.

2. The combination of claim 1 said roof means comprising a slteletonizedframe including a covering of a tween said roof means and tractorvehicle for retaining the root means in a position of adjustment.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein the shock absorbing meanscomprises a resilient rod element, said resilient element having theends thereof positioned in cups, one cup being secured to the endportion of said leg with the open end extending upwardly, the other cupbeing secured to the roof with the open end extending downwardly, ahelical spring is positioned concentrically with respect to saidresilient rod and said cup between the roof and the said leg.

5. In a tractor vehicle, in combination, a roof assembly having roofmeans overlying an operator portion of the tractor vehicle, roof supportmeans fixed to the vehicle in displacement to the operator and extendingupwardly therefrom toward the roof means, said support means mounted insaid vehicle by means comprising a support means removably received on aball element fixedly mounted on the tractor vehicle, and a strutassembly connected to said support means and tractor vehicle adjacentsaid ball element.

. a depending ball element, the tractor vehicle including coupling meansremovably receiving the ball element of said strut assembly.

8. The combination of clann 6; said strut assembly comprising a pair ofarm elements intersecting at a depending foot connected to said ballelement of the strut assembly, said arm being connected to clampingcollars adjustably engageable with said support arm for permitting thesupport arm to be rotated about its longitudinal axis.

9. A roof assembly for use on a vehicle comprising, in combination: roofmeans for overlying an operator portion of such vehicle; support meansextending downwardly from the roof means and having a connecting devicefor rigidly fixing said support means to such vehicle; universalvibration damping and shock absorbing means secured to the support meansat a position spaced from said connecting device and supporting saidroof means, said shock absorbing means including a resilient annularcollar and a reinforcing ring encircling said collar; means for holdingsaid collar on said support means with the axis of the former disposedhorizontally; and mounting means securing said ring to said roof means.

10. The combination defined in claim 9 wherein said support meansinclude a pair of support members dis posed at generally opposite sidesof the operator portion and having rod sections at their top endsextending generally horizontally, said universal Vibration damping andshock absorbing means being disposed between each support member andsaid roof means, and said collar axis being substantially coincidentwith the axes of said rod sections.

11. The combination of claim 10 wherein said vibration damping meansinclude portions permitting said roof means to be adjustably tiltedabout the longitudinal axes of said rod sections.

12. The combination of claim 10 wherein there are two vibration dampingmeans disposed at opposite sides of said roof means and on a lateralaxis which extends through the center of gravity of said roof means.

13. The combination of claim 10 wherein said support members and rodsections have supplemental universal vibration damping means interposedtherebetween.

14. The combination of claim 10 comprising supplemental fiuid-typeshock-absorbing assemblies extending between the tractor vehicle andsaid support members.

15. A roof assembly for use on a vehicle comprising, in combination:roof means for overlying an operator portion of such vehicle; supportmeans extending in a generally downward direction from said roof meansand having, at a position spaced from said roof means, a device forconnecting said support means to such vehicle; universal vibrationdamping and shock absorbing means connected to the support means at aposition spaced from said device and supporting said roof means, saidshock absorbing means including a resilient annular collar and areinforcing ring encircling said collar; means for holding said collaron one of said support means and said roof means with the axis of thecollar disposed generally horizontally; and mounting means forconnecting said ring to the other of said support means and said roofmeans.

16. An assembly as defined in claim 15 wherein said connecting deviceincludes a member removably received on a ball element to be fixedlymounted on the vehicle, and a strut assembly connected to said memberand connectable to the vehicle adjacent said ball element.

17. A roof assembly for use on a vehicle comprising, in combination:roof means for overlying an operator portion of such vehicle; supportmeans extending in a generally downward direction from said roof means;universal vibration damping and shock absorbing means connected to thesupport means and supporting said roof means, said shock absorbing meansincluding a resilient annular collar and a reinforcing ring encirclingsaid collar; means for holding said collar on one of said support meansand said roof means with the axis of the collar disposed generallyhorizontally; and mounting means for connecting said ring to the otherof said support means and said roof means.

References Cited in the file of this patent

1. IN A TRACTOR VEHICLE, IN COMBINATION, A PLURALITY OF FENDERS, A ROOFASSEMBLY HAVING ROOF MEANS OVERLYING AN OPERATOR PORTION OF THE TRACTORVEHICLE; SUPPORT MEANS HAVING AN L-SHAPED CONFIGURATION FIXED TO THEVEHICLE IN DISPLACEMENT TO THE OPERATOR PORTION AND EXTENDING UPWARDLYTHEREFROM TOWARD THE ROOF MEANS, SAID SUPPORT MEANS HAVING A LEG AT THETOP END EXTENDING HORIZONTALLY AND TRANSVERSELY AND TERMINATING NEARSUBSTANTIALLY THE CENTER OF GRAVITY OF SAID ROOM ASSEMBLY, UNIVERSALVIBRATION DAMPING AND SHOCK ABSORBING MEANS SECURED TO THE END OF SAIDLEG, SAID ROOF MEANS BEING MOUNTED ON SAID SHOCK ABSORBING MEANS, SAIDSHOCK ABSORBING MEANS INCLUDING A RESILIENT ANNULAR COLLAR, MEANSMOUNTED AT THE END OF SAID LEG FOR RELEASABLY HOLDING SAID COLLARWHEREBY ITS AXIS IS IN A HORIZONTAL POSITION, A METAL RING ENCLOSINGSAID COLLAR, MOUNTING MEANS SECURING SAID RING TO SAID ROOF MEANS.